Steamboat Fine Dining

The moment you walk into Café Diva, you’ll be overwhelmed with the smell of citrus, fennel, and cardamom. The casual yet classy environment, combined with all the smells that fill the space are overwhelming shocking to senses at first. Take a second, sit down, enjoy the warm, fluffy bread and fresh olive oil while you peruse the innovative menu. Opened at the tail end of ’98, owners Paul Underwood, Beth Fadel, and Kate Rench strive to fill their restaurant with quality ingredients that foodies will appreciate.

L’apogee restaurant is pricy, but it’s worth the cost every once in a while. While vegetarians might want to steer clear of the whole restaurant, carnivores will love the Yampa Valley rack of lamb, cooked with honey truffle butter, and served alongside beluga lentils. Even though the menu is limited, owners Jamie and Sandy Jenny carefully craft each dish. When the two renovated the building after purchasing it in 1985, they made sure to put in a world-class wine cellar and they keep their staff educated about its contents.

Using quality, fresh, local products, childhood friends Brian Vaughn and Kevin Caparrelli, the chefs at Bistro CV, aim to reflect their ethic of cooking simply in everything they produce. The pair succeeds with flying colors. Not only is the food beyond delicious but it is also reasonably priced. The menu changes on a fairly regular basis to keep up with what’s in season, so it’s hard to nail down specific favorites. A classic, though, is always the CV burger—wagyu beef with La Belle farms foie gras, garlic aioli, and pickled onions with potato puree on the side.

Ore House is a little pricey for the casual atmosphere, but if you want a good steak, and can’t see yourself forcing your kid to wear a nice shirt, come to this spot. Service is usually prompt—although they have been known to drop the ball here and there—and the wait staff is super friendly. The menu offers a ton of different meats and cuts to choose from, but make sure not to miss out on the lean, tender elk steak served with sweet and tangy lingonberry sauce and make sure to get the house potato on the side.